GUL: "HISTORICAL ISSUES SHOULDN'T BE LEFT TO POLITICIANS"
In Bulgaria for a weekend energy summit, President Abdullah Gul said that US President Barack Obama's statement on the incidents of 1915 would have benefited from a more balanced approach. "There are points in the statement I disagree with," Gul told reporters in Sofia. "The Turks who perished at the hand of rioting Armenians during these incidents should also be remembered. Hundreds of thousands of Turks and Muslims also died in 1915. Everyone's pain must be shared." He said statesmen and politicians can't pass judgment on historical events, adding that now is time to look to the future and give a chance to diplomatic efforts to solve issues between Turkey and Armenia, and Armenia and Azerbaijan. For the first time all the parties are striving at the highest levels to find solutions, he said. He expressed hope that all the problems would be solved, making way for cooperation among all countries in the region. Also commenting on the statement, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said it could seriously harm the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia. Referring to Turkey's offer to open its archives to facilitate finding the truth about the events, Toptan complained of a lack of interest. "We're ready to open our archives," he said. "Whoever is interested can use our archives. All related countries should open their archives." He said some are trying to pressure Turkey based on unfounded speculation and warned Armenian officials that this could hinder normalization efforts. Also commenting on relations with Azerbaijan in the midst of these efforts, Toptan said there was disinformation about recent developments. He said Turkey's relations with Azerbaijan would not change, stressing that Turkey would never agree to anything that would harm Azerbaijan. In related news, a Foreign Ministry statement called the perception of history in Obama's statement "unacceptable," and urged impartial study of the issue. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN CRITICIZES OBAMA'S APRIL 24 STATEMENT
Speaking at a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara over the weekend, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized US President Barack Obama's statement marking April 24, the Armenian anniversary of the "genocide" allegations, as an unacceptable interpretation of history. Calling the statement "unsatisfactory," he added, "We see the statement as an interpretation of history that does not reflect the truth and is thus unacceptable. We are saddened that the issue is being persistently exploited and many politicians are trying to win votes from the controversy over the 1915 incidents." In an apparent reference to Obama's earlier stressing Turkey's importance in regional and global peace efforts, Erdogan said, "Turkey is not a country that can be flattered and then fooled." In the message, Obama, as widely expected, avoided calling the 1915 incidents "genocide" but did characterize them as "one of the great atrocities of the 20th century," and twice used an Armenian phrase meaning "great calamity." Stressing that history should not be used as political fodder, Erdogan insisted that historical issues should be left to historians. "If countries that have nothing to do with the issue stop interfering, Turkish-Armenian relations will be normalized, historical matters will be clarified, and the road will be paved for peace," he said. Warning that there are forces in both Turkey and Azerbaijan working to derail rapprochement, Erdogan also called on Azeri leaders not to be deceived by baseless claims, and reassured them that Turkey would not do anything which would harm Azerbaijan's interests. Also commenting on the statement, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said it shows that concessions made to please outsiders are pointless. "It is unacceptable," opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said of Obama's statement. "If the US sacrifices Turkey for the sake of Armenian votes, everyone, including most notably Armenia, will have to suffer the consequences." /Sabah-Turkiye/
MGK TO MEET TOMORROW
The National Security Council (MGK), chaired by President Abdullah Gul, is set to convene tomorrow at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Issues to be discussed at the gathering include recent developments in Iraq and the security of energy lines. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan will brief council members on the normalization process between Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. They will also discuss who will succeed the retiring Emre Taner as National Intelligence Agency (MIT) undersecretary. /Hurriyet/
US JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN MULLEN VISITS TURKEY
US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Michael Mullen paid a visit to Ankara over the weekend. During his 15-hour visit, Mullen met with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Ilker Basbug and Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Hasan Igsiz. Mullen and Basbug discussed issues such as Afghanistan and energy security, the US withdrawal from Iraq, and tensions in the Middle East and the Caucasus. They also discussed recent developments in northern Iraq and intelligence sharing against the terrorist PKK. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/
AUSTRALIAN FM PRAISES TURKEY AS AN IMPORTANT COUNTRY WITH REGIONAL INFLUENCE
Turkey is not just influential in its region, but also it conveys its values and approach to the whole world, said Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith yesterday. Smith, in Turkey for the 94th anniversary of the Battle of Canakkale, added that Turkey's accession to the European Union would not only benefit Turkey, but would also contribute to the EU's growth and make it stronger. Visiting Turkey for the first time, Smith called the ceremony at Anzac Bay a touching experience. He said the friendship between Australia and Turkey was born out of the deep respect between two nations who faced each other in battle. "At present, aside from their historic dimension, relations between Turkey and Australia are growing in various areas," he added. He said soldiers of the two countries, onetime enemies, now serve side by side under UN auspices in Afghanistan, and defend shared values. In related news, thousands of Australian, New Zealanders and Turks gathered at Anzac Bay on the Gallipoli Peninsula as dawn broke in the northwestern province of Canakkale on Saturday to commemorate their forebears who died in World War I. /Turkiye/
ISTANBUL TO HOST EURASIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT NEXT WEEK
The 12th Eurasia Economic Summit will take place in Istanbul next week, event organizer the Marmara Group Foundation announced yesterday. Forty-one countries will participate in the three-day meeting, starting Wednesday, May 8, where a wide range of topics will be discussed, including energy security and cooperation, the global financial crisis, global and regional cooperation, tourism, the ecology, the environment and global warming. /Today's Zaman/